Kenner’s Rivertown is a quiet spot for a suburban New Orleans getaway — a little too quiet, according to merchants who operate in the historic district along the Mississippi River levee. Expect that to change on Saturday, Aug. 24, with the debut of Rivertown Revival, a bike-friendly festival centered on Heritage Park.

“We see the bicyclists riding up on the levee, and we want to make sure they know about us,” said Julie Cantrell, president of the Rivertown Merchants and Business Association. “Bicyclists are a group we want to embrace. We’re a perfect destination for anyone making excursions along the levee.”

Rivertown Revival is one of several efforts to put life into this suburban cluster of period buildings, shuttered museums and scattered businesses at the foot of Williams Boulevard.

Brick pavers have replaced concrete sidewalks, and lampposts have been repainted thanks to a state grant. In July, the area was designated a Louisiana Cultural District (with tax benefits for artists and patrons). Kenner officials are exploring how to create artist studios and other bohemian amenities in the neighborhood, with help from The Arts Council of New Orleans.

Saturday will be a good time to get a preview, as local artists set up sales booths in Heritage Park. They will be joined by two food trucks and other food vendors, including representatives from the neighborhood’s existing bakery and restaurants. Organizers promise a day of live music, with performances by the NOLA Treblemakers and the New Creations Brass Band.

Rivertown Revival kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with a guided bicycle excursion from Lasalle’s Landing in Kenner to Oak Street in New Orleans. Riders from New Orleans should plan to depart at 10 a.m. Water and snack stations will be set up at the Rivershack Tavern and other stops along the 11-mile route.

The bike-themed activities continue at Rivertown until 6 p.m., with a safety course for young riders and presentations on the proposed Master Bike Plan for Jefferson Parish. Organizers of the festival hope to raise money to create a public bike pump and tool station on the levee at Rivertown.

“I suppose some of our ideas seem ambitious, but I just got back from a trip to Europe and saw what a big deal biking is in cities over there,” Cantrell said. “I saw a three-story parking ramp for bikes near a train station in Amsterdam. We’re not going in that direction, but we do want bikers to know that views of the Mississippi aren’t the only reason to pedal in our direction.”